Memorial Day 2009

I feel as though this is going to be a long post; there is so much in my head, and in my heart today.

We arrived home a couple of hours ago after a good weekend with our sons and daughters-in-law. Now, I've just realized that I've started at the end rather than the beginning.

I had a terrible week last week. I was an emotional wreck and couldn't figure out why. A nightmare that was actually, according to my hearers, pretty amusing, had me in tears. My problems with Blogger, with the bank, with some issues at school, with some responsibilities, all seemed insurmountable. I was dealing with things at work and trying to be a good friend to those who were asking things of me. But in all honesty, I've no idea how well I did. There were a couple of times when I wondered if I was losing my mind.

We had plans to go south for the holiday weekend, and it was late Friday morning that it dawned on me what was wrong. Friday of Memorial Day weekend last year was when Joe "got sick" which is the euphemism we use for "had a serious heart attack."

Little wonder I was a mess. Memorial Day this year could have had a far more personal meaning for me.

Once this was figured out, I somehow was better.

We had a long and stressful drive to Alexandria on Friday evening. The traffic on the highway was thick and slow moving (with a nod to Honna). A&A's hospitality was terrific, though, and we had a nice visit with them and were on our way to Richmond at a reasonable hour on Saturday. Again, congested traffic was the order of the day, but we arrived safely at T&A's home and Joe settled immediately into their welcoming hammock for a nice nap.

On Sunday evening we attended a Memorial Day event at T&A's church. There were readings, hymns, and the performance of a requiem (Anastasia was the harpist), all of which were very beautiful and a reminder of what Memorial Day really is about -- it is not just a three-day weekend and the unofficial start of summer. I was moved to tears during part of the program.

Again splendid hospitality from a son and his wife. Joe realized on Saturday morning that he'd forgotten to bring his pills with him, but a phone call home to the pharmacy and a trip to a local one in Richmond solved the problem. We did a lot of good eating and high quality laughing with both pairs of kids.

The trip home was surreal. Simply unwilling to cope with the Interstate again, we took an alternate route and for the first several hours had absolutely no traffic whatsoever. We stopped at an unknown lunch spot in an unknown town in Maryland and, friends, it was the kind of place where you'd expect to see Ruth and Idgie walk through the door at any minute brandishing their fried green tomatoes. The proprietress was doing it all -- clearing the tables, taking the orders, cooking the orders, delivering the food, and all with a style and panache that had us captivated. People seemed to know each other but the fact that they didn't know us --yet -- didn't daunt them a bit. We had a marvelous lunch and splurged on a chocolate milkshake to go, because somehow we knew she would make it just right.

So, as I started out, we're home, and Memorial Day is nearly at an end. And I'm okay. And so is he.

Love from,

Comments

Helen said…
It's good to hear that last week is over, that your weekend was wonderful with family and that there were no mishaps.

Thanks for your post and I'm sending hugs your way.
quiltmom anna said…
Nancy,
I am glad to see that Blogger worked out its problems- it was frustrating to not be able to read some of my favorite blogs including yours.
I am glad that you had a lovely family weekend and that it was rich with new loving memories. I hope the next few days help you feel more yourself. I am sure that your loving ways were appreciated by the people around you, even if you were not feeling on top of things. Your caring is reflected in the many postings you write -
Warmest Regards,
Anna
Lorraine said…
Nancy - I am pleased Blogger worked out their "issues"...I didn't appreciate not being able to read your blog (along with some others!) sorry to hear you were a little "out of sorts" last week...I am a bit flat this week and even though I am home on leave I just can't seem to settle to doing anything!...Lovely that you had the weekend with family and sometimes it pays to take the road less travelled and take time out for a choccy milkshake! Have a great week!
Unknown said…
I'm so glad that you could spend this significant anniversary with him rather than dreading the day coming as a mark of a year without him. Anniversaries are strange things - they even creep into your subconscious when you think you're not aware of them and you were obviously fretting without knowing you were. Having spent many hours on traffic solid UK motorways visiting my parents when the children were small I'd agree, take the secondary roads and you'll often find treasures like your little cafe - bet you travel that way next time and what's the betting she'll remember you too :o)
Tanya said…
Has it already been a year? I hope the weekend with with loved ones refreshed you and that you'll be having some better days. Give you hubby an extra hug from your blog friends!
Barb said…
Nancy, hopefully the time visiting family helped ease the stress of last week for you...pressures do tend to creep in on us! You did a fast trip to Richmond! My niece and her family are a Richmond family, and she invites us often, we really do need to make the trip soon! She promised me quilt shop visits...you have given some suggestions that I can follow up on! She is not a quilter, but she is a wonderful niece, and we are very close...so I am sure she will take me to a few shops :>)!! The traffic for that trip is HORRIBLE, that is what keeps me away, more then anything!
Susan said…
I was going through withdrawal not being able to read your blog. We've had a couple of 'memorable' Memorial Days over the last 5 years, and now that you mention it, I was also pretty cranky last week. So glad you got through this one-year mark. Best wishes for many more markings of this "anniversary."
AnnieO said…
I did not "know" you last year, but can imagine the extreme anxiety and difficulties you had. Glad you put your finger on what was triggering such emotional response and that a getaway with family helped so much. My sister and I encountered heavy interstate traffic on a summer trip in Missouri, but when we ditched the interstate for the secondary roads we had the loveliest traffic free drive that was so pretty and fun. We made up no drive time, but the stress fell away and we enjoyed it so much!
Nicole said…
The start of a new week is full of possibilities. My sister had a funny thing happen. She phoned up our dad, who is a WW11 vet to wish him "happy Memorial Day". To which he replied, "I'm not dead yet". Guess she should have waited until Veteran's Day to offer her good wishes!